All of them turned around stiffly."Dad?"Everyone was looking up at the stairs. They could not believe their eyes when they saw Mr. Riddle Sr. on his feet.Nicole helped him walk downstairs. Her brows furrowed when she saw her grandmother standing there being bullied. However, it was heartwarming for Nicole to see Gloria standing in front of her grandmother protecting her."Dillion and his wife tried to look normal as they did not want to act rashly in front of their dad.A hint of disappointment flashed upon Mr. Riddle Sr.'s eyes as he looked at Dillion.Mr. Riddle Sr. was furious with Dillion, his hands trembling. Dillion was quite loud just now. So, Mr. Riddle Sr. heard everything as he walked down the hall.'Dillion was way out of line. How could he say such awful words to Mrs. Wallace Sr.!'Dillion did not look as proud as before when he noticed his father's face was contorted with anger. He quickly sat upright and forced a smile as he looked at his father."How are you,
Dillion instinctively assumed Nicole must be the one who kicked him because she had almost made him kneel back then. The fact that he did not have to kneel in the end did not lessen his shame, however.'It must be Nicole trying to put me in embarrassment again!'"You still have the nerve to call Nicole? You deserve being kicked!" said Mr. Riddle Sr.Dillon's face turned pale as he was harshly reprimanded by his father.'Dad actually let Nicole kick me?! He doesn't even bother that I'm an elder family member and put me in a tight spot!'Karen could not help to speak, "Dad! No matter what. Dillon is still an elder member of the family." As she said that, she ran to Dillon, wanting to help him up.But Mr. Riddle Sr. said in an icy cold voice, "Don't any of you dare to help him up!"His words had startled Karen. She immediately drew back her hands.Mr. Riddle Sr. looked at Dillon's eyes; they were full of shock. He said indifferently, without a trace of pity in his voice, "I repeat
Now that Mr. Riddle Sr. was pissed, and they did not want to defy him, they had no choice but to leave Nicole alone for a few more days.Mrs. Wallace Sr. was here just to check out the Riddle family's attitude toward Nicole. Mr. Riddle Sr.'s attitude was clear, so she had nothing to worry about.She was not used to staying in such a ridiculously large family, and it did not help that Mr. Riddle Sr. asked her to stay longer. Mrs. Wallace Sr. wanted to decline but was worried that her refusal might affect the Riddle family's opinion of Nicole.Just as Mrs. Wallace Sr. was in a dilemma, Nicole said deprecatingly, "It's alright, Grandpa. My grandma isn't familiar with this place, and I'm going to sit for exam soon. I'm afraid I will not have time to accompany her. Maybe when Grandma comes next time, she can stay here longer."Upon hearing what Nicole said, Mrs. Wallace Sr. let out a long sigh of relief. She turned to Mr. Riddle Sr."Yeah, it's so courteous of you to invite me to have
Steve and Sean also nodded. They had just arrived from the office and happened to meet their three brothers coming back from school.Mrs. Wallace Sr. looked at the young lads, seeing them stand at Sean's side, and guessed that they should be Nicole's brother.Looking at faces, which had reddened from running, she did not want to say anything but waved her hand to show that she did not mind and motioned them to take their seats.Nicole saw her brothers sitting down next to her and knew that they had set store by her and thus accepted Mrs. Wallace Sr. and that they wanted to let Mrs. Wallace Sr. know that she had not been mistreated in the Riddle family. That was why they took time out of their busy schedule to come back.Thinking of this, Nicole felt her emotion surging.Samuel sat next to Nicole and winked at Nicole, who looked at him with a smile in her eyes.At 6:10 p.m., the door was opened again, with Preston coming back from outside.Karen quickly motioned him to sit down b
"Why don't you take it as a break from having to serve dad?" Karen asked.Damien did not want to argue with a woman. He was deep in thought, with his face darkening.Miley, on the side, did not hear the undertone of what Karen said. Clueless about what happened, she looked at Karen and then at her husband, trying to persuade him. "Exactly, Damien. Dad is still sick, and it could be contagious. Having a change of seat isn't a bad idea after all."Damien's face sank even further upon hearing what Miley said. He took a deep breath and then turned to look at Miley, who knew nothing about what happened in the family and only wanted her daughter to become a star all day long. She simply sounded incomprehensible to him when she said such stupid things.'What do you mean by changing sitting position is not a bad thing? Don't you know what that seat means? I'm afraid that after this meal, my position in the family will be reduced to inconsequentiality. I used to be the person whom Dad trust
Nicole introduced all her brothers to Mrs. Wallace Sr. over dinner.Mrs. Wallace Sr. looked at the twin siblings of Spencer and Samuel and smiled. "You two seem to have the best relationship with Nicole, right?"Both Spencer and Samuel had been fetching Nicole food during dinner as if afraid that she could not eat enough.She knew very well that the adults sitting here were mere of formality. Those kids who were willing to come back and meet an old lady like her were the ones really having a good relationship with Nicole.Samuel nodded in response. He was extra gentle in front of Mrs. Wallace Sr. "That's for sure. Nicole and I are buddies."Spencer smirked. Just as he was about to say something, Nicole suddenly said solemnly, "Yes, Samuel is the most cheerful and the one closest to me. He is impulsive, but he is a good guy."Again, Spencer tittered upon hearing that, not giving Samuel a face.Samuel's face darkened instantly. While he tried to make a good impression on Mrs. Wall
She knew it; it was still Mrs. Wallace Sr. who cared for her the most.Daniel, his wife, and their children saw Nicole and Mrs. Wallace Sr. out. As they came out of the door, Sean drove over a low-key but luxurious Mercedes-Benz.This Mercedes-Benz's sport-sedan was well known for its comfort. Sean chose the car with Mrs. Wallace Sr. in mind.Nicole raised an eyebrow as she watched Sean get out of the car and open the door for Mrs. Wallace Sr., then waited until her grandmother had gotten in before he returned to the driver's seat.Nicole was touched by his heartwarming gesture.Sean might be taciturn, but he was very thoughtful.Not wanting to delay further, Nicole also got into the car and sat next to her grandmother.Great Oak was about a two-and-a-half-hour to three-hour drive from here. Time passed quickly as the three of them chatted all the way.Arriving at the destination and before getting out of the car, Mrs. Wallace Sr. looked at Nicole and felt reluctant to leave.
"No, it's just that the sun is bigger and hotter now." Sean smiled. "How's your grandma? Did she ask you to stay?"Nicole looked into the big eyes in the rearview mirror and nodded affirmatively. "No, she asked me to get along with you.""It seems that your grandma is very happy with us."Sean breathed a sigh of relief. He started the car and drove back toward San Joto.Nicole was bored and glanced at her phone.Suddenly, she received a text message from Edwin.[Please, help me find that master. If he doesn't show up, I'll be done for.]Nicole raised an eyebrow. In fact, she and Edwin did not know each other well, but this morning he took her grandmother on a tour of the school, and he was indeed considerate. So she considered she owed him a favor. She just did not know why he was looking for Lucifer.Looking up at Sean, she mused for a moment and then asked Sean, "Do you know Edwin?""Edwin?" Sean wondered for a second. "Is it the guy from the Bradford family—the one who star
"Let's go, it's time to head down. The ceremony will start soon."The group laughed and talked as they left the bridal suite. Jared and his friends, Spencer and Preston, were also guided out by everyone.Now, only the family of four remained in the bridal suite, getting ready for their big entrance."Mommy, it's almost time. Let's get ready," Nolan said, pulling on Nicole's hand.Nicole gently patted Nolan and Lana's cheeks, whispering, "Okay."As she made to stand, Jared extended his hand toward her. Lifting her gaze, she caught Jared in a moment of elegance, his charm unmistakable. A smile bloomed on her face as she placed her hand in his.With a gentle tug, Jared drew her up, his touch tender against her palm.In a swift move, he pulled Nicole into his arms, his other hand circling her waist to pull her close.As Jared looked at Nicole, admiration shimmered in his eyes. "You look truly beautiful today," he remarked."Daddy, Mommy is beautiful every day," Lana chimed in, til
Nicole laughed off the debate between Lulu and June, saying, "Both are lovely. I'm happy with either."Both sets of jewelry were beautiful, and she felt that either would do."Exactly. Nicole will shine in anything," Cindy said, picking a set. "Let's go with this one."Lulu gave June a victorious look. "Told you this was the one."Cindy then suggested, "Why not wear this for the ceremony and switch for the reception? That way, we use both.""Great idea," June agreed, smiling at Cindy's suggestion.Nicole smiled. "Sounds perfect."With everyone agreeing, the stylist went ahead with preparing Nicole.Lulu watched Nicole, amazed by how calm she seemed. "Aren't you a bit nervous?" she asked. Lulu remembered her own wedding jitters.Nicole bit her lip, a hint of nerves showing. "I'm more excited than anything," she admitted.She had been looking forward to this day, ready to face the future with Jared with hope and joy."Just finished," the stylist announced, stepping back to adm
"Do you think I don't want to meet someone? I just haven't found the right person," Gary said somewhat resignedly. He had long regarded Nicole as just a friend."Why don't we just try the dates our families set up?" Ryder suggested, calm and collected. He figured since finding someone on his own wasn't working, maybe arranged dates could help. In their circles, it seemed like good matches were meant to be."Arranged dates don't sound great. You hardly know the person. Are we really okay with deciding to spend our lives together like that?" Preston wasn't too keen on the idea."Emery's doing pretty well with it, you know," Ryder said confidently. "I trust our families. They wouldn't set us up with someone terrible. They've probably made sure we'd be a good match."Gary thought it over. "You might be right. Our families aren't just trying to make deals; they want us to be happy."As Gary and Ryder seemed more into the idea, Preston was still unsure. "You guys are serious?""Why not
Jared held Nicole close and looked at her. "After we get married, we'll move to the estate," he said.Their future home would be just theirs.He thought it was good for Nicole to spend more time with her family since she hadn't been with them for five years. But they knew they would move to the estate later."Okay," Nicole said, nodding. She was happy Jared made the estate close to her family, so she was okay with moving.Jared gently touched her hair and kissed her...****Time flew, and soon it was Nicole and Jared's wedding day.From the morning, San Joto was alive with excitement. Everyone was talking about Jared and Nicole's wedding.Politicians, business leaders, close friends, and business partners all came to wish the couple well.The Riddles were busy welcoming the guests, making everything look amazing."Patricia, hurry up, Charlie's here," Ellar called out as he spotted Charlie. He quickly got Patricia to come and greet him. Max, hearing the fuss, came over too.C
"You really need to rest. You shouldn't work for the next few days. Stay home and rest. A bride has to look her best," Gloria said, looking at Nicole and making the decision for her."Bride!" Nicole was surprised because she hadn't talked about any wedding yet."Yes, now that everything is settled, it's time for your wedding with Jared," Gloria said, deciding firmly. She used to think it was best for the kids to decide for themselves, but after several delays, she felt waiting longer made no sense. The wedding should happen soon."I was thinking that too," Jared said. They had planned the wedding after solving the Everett problem, but then they found out Lawrence had hurt Nicole in the past, causing more delays. Now, with everything sorted out, they saw no reason to wait. The wedding was the next big step.Nicole looked at Jared and, with a smile, agreed, "Okay." Their wedding had been waiting for five years; it was time, with no need to wait any longer."That's so cool, I'm the f
Patricia felt a mix of reluctance and happiness as she prepared to part ways with Charlie.Jared glanced at Charlie and said, "It's about time for us to board." He tenderly held Nicole's hand and led her toward the boarding gate."I need to go through the boarding procedures too," Patricia said, biting her lip. "You must find happiness as well.""I will," Charlie assured her with a gentle smile, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. "You've grown up, too. You don't need to cling to me anymore. I believe Ellar will take great care of you."Patricia nodded, then, leaning closer to Charlie, she whispered, 'When Mr. Johnston and Ms. Riddle get married, make sure you bring my future sister-in-law back with you.' Caught off guard, Charlie playfully scolded her, "You little rascal."Doretta, standing not too far away, overheard Patricia's whispered words. Her cheeks turned even redder."Let's go," Patricia announced, then turned to Doretta, adding, "We'll meet again.""Goodbye,
Lying in bed with Nicole cradled in his arms, Jared whispered gently, "Sleep for a bit.""Mhm." Finally feeling at peace, Nicole smiled slightly, and she quickly fell asleep.As Jared listened to her soft breathing, his eyes softened with affection, and he too closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.The next morning, as the group got ready to head back to San Joto, Zane and Doretta came to say goodbye."I still have things to finish here, but I promise to be at your wedding," Zane said with a big smile."And I'll be there to wish you well, Nicole," Doretta added.Saying goodbye is always hard, but everyone knew they had their own journeys to continue."Great, we'll see you in San Joto," Nicole said with a bright smile."It's time to go," Zane said, knowing they couldn't wait any longer without risking missing their plane."I've got the paperwork," Patricia said, ready to help with the travel documents for Jared and Nicole. Then, looking at Charlie, she asked, "Need help with
Nicole was quiet, thinking about everything. 'If I hadn't remembered everything, maybe Lawrence and I could have stayed friends. But after finding out about the airport, it's impossible...'Not only had she regained her memory, but she had also learned about the airport incident. Lawrence had gone to great lengths to prevent her from returning to San Joto."Thanks for saving me before, but you also hurt me. We're even now," Nicole said calmly, looking at Lawrence like he was someone she didn't know anymore.Jared squeezed Nicole's hand gently. "Let's go."They decided to leave the rest to Zane and head back."Wait." Lawrence's voice stopped Nicole. He sounded almost like he was begging. "Please, don't tell Nolan about this."Nicole paused, then said, "I won't tell him. Not for you, but because I don't want Nolan to see how bad people can be."With that, Nicole walked away with Jared.Lawrence sat down, watching her leave, with mixed feelings."Let's go too," Patricia said to C
"Your robots don't work anymore," a voice said, sounding very pleased. Then, a person came out from behind the crowd, looking pretty proud of himself."Carl!" Nicole was shocked to see him. 'It's Carl!'"It's been a while." Carl smiled and waved at Nicole.Carl had come as soon as Zane told him about the problem. He couldn't just do nothing when Nicole needed help.He didn't expect them to act so soon, which is why he was a little late. But he was still in time to help. Carl was surprised by Lawrence's robots at first, but luckily, the weapons he brought, which he had been working on for years, stopped the robots. This was a big help to everyone."We really need to thank Carl; we would have been in big trouble without him," Zane said, feeling relieved.Zane had asked Carl for help, hoping it would make them more likely to win, but Carl ended up being very important."Thank you," Nicole said with a warm smile. It was nice to see an old friend again."No need to thank me. I'm jus